Financial Statement Analysis of Ibm

Financial Statement Analysis of IBM Financial Statement Analysis of IBM I. Company Facts IBM – International Business Machines Corporation The home office of IBM is located in Armonk, Town of North Castle, New York, United States. IBM was founded in 1911 as the Computing Tabulating Recording Company (CTR) through a merger of three companies: the Tabulating Machine Company, the International Time Recording Company, and the Computing Scale Company.CTR adopted the name International Business Machines in 1924, using a name previously designated to CTR's subsidiary in Canada and later South America. Standard Industrial Classification Codes are 7379 which are mainly on computer and relative stuff. Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of IBM now is Virginia M. Rometty. Chairman of the Board of IBM now is Samuel J. Palmisano. The end date of recent fiscal year of IBM is Dec. 31st 2011. Main services IBM provides include business consulting, IT related services, outsourcing service and traini ng.Main products IBM provides include mainframe, software, system and storage. IBM’s major operations consist of five business segments: Global Technology Services, Global Business Services, Software, Systems and Technology and Global Financing. In the latest fiscal year, IBM has an amount of 433,362 wholly owned employees all over the world. PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PwC) is the independent auditor retained to audit IBM’s consolidated financial Statements and the effectiveness of the company's internal control over financial reporting.The stock ticker symbol is IBM. IBM common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange, the Chicago Stock Exchange, and outside the United States. And the latest stock price was $188. 32 on Nov. 14th 2012 on NYSE. II. Business and Strategy Analysis 1. Industry Description and Competitive Anlysis Since IBM is a highly diversified company, it concentrates on several industries at the same time. So let’s say IBM mainly concentra tes on the computer related hardware and software manufacturing industries. As we all now, these two industries supplement each other and depend on each other while the most competitive companies always work on both industries at the same time. The computer related software and hardware manufacturing industry is characterized by significant research and development activity and rapid technological change. The rapid pace of innovation in this sector creates a constant demand for newer and faster products and applications. While the sector has grown faster than most other industries over the past several decades, it faces challenges from rising costs, global market share, and the rapid pace of innovation.The main competitors for IBM now are Hewlett-Packard, Dell and Microsoft. Here I will use the Porter five forces analysis to give a competitive analysis among these four companies. Threat of new competition: The market of this industry is profitable in some parts like high-level softw are and frames, not too profitable in some other parts like PCs. So we can say the market is still profitable and is attracting the new entrants, which has the possibility to decrease profitability for all firms in this industry.While in this industry, because of the existence of several big companies, the barriers to entry are relatively high which are non-profitable for the new entry firms. The several big companies have held very high brand equity, customer loyalty, efficient distribution methods and scale effect to decrease the costs and increase the profits. There is not too much threat from the new firms to compete with IBM, there are high possibility for other main competitors like HP, Dell and Microsoft to enter the markets where IBM is making high profit, well they have the R&D capabilities.But to make the biggest profits, although IBM's main competitors are Hewlett-Packard, Dell and Microsoft, each of these companies has a different focus area. Dell makes most of its money on PC and server hardware, while Hewlett-Packard is more diversified as the leader in PCs and Imaging ; Printing as well as offering IT services and Microsoft concentrates on the computer software development. So we can conclude that there is threat of new competition, but the level is relatively low.Threat of substitute products or services: The threat of substitute products or services is relatively high compared with the threat of new competition. Also these threats come from the main competitors. For products, such as PC, most customers will compare the price, screen size, life time and other attributes instead of just the brand the same way as services such as IT consulting etc. Bargaining power of customers: The bargaining power of customers is also described as the market of outputs: the ability of customers to put the firm under pressure, which also affects the customer's sensitivity to price changes.In this factor, because customers of these two industries have many channe ls to access the products and services, high information availability, different choices, differentiated advantages of products and customers is also kind of price sensitive. So we can conclude that the bargaining power of customers is strong. Bargaining power of suppliers: The bargaining power of suppliers is also described as the market of inputs. Suppliers of raw materials, components, labor, and services (such as expertise) to the firm can be a source of power over the firm, when there are few substitutes.Because there are plenty of suppliers in most parts, presence of substitute keeps being produced, degree of differentiation of inputs is not high enough and supplier competition is very strong. Then we can conclude that bargaining power of suppliers is also in a lower level. Intensity of competitive rivalry: Intensity of competitive rivalry is the major determinant of the competitiveness of the industry. Sustainable competitive advantages through innovation, all these four big competitive companies have strong R&D team and invest much money on it.And we can always see the advertisements of their products anywhere. Each company has a differentiated competitive strategy to concentrate on their own areas and holds sustainable competitive advantages through innovation. So we can conclude that the intensity of competitive rivalry is very high. Given the Porter five forces analysis above, here we have a general conclusion that computer related hardware and software industries are relatively highly competitive and sustainable based on the current situation and future development trends.There do have some profitable niche market and some areas can be developed further. The big four companies have their own advantages and emphasis and also compete heavily with each other. There is no easy way for each of them to lead in all. 2. Industry’s Future Prospects Assessment When we come to talk about the future prospects of computer related hardware and software in dustries, I’m sure that it will not be that promising like nanotechnology or genetic therapy which is still in research period, since he computer related hardware and software industries have been developed many years, most of products, technologies and services have been mature enough. But it is still profitable and sustainable because the world has been established based on these two industries. Without their support, the world cannot step forward even a little. And the intense competition and fast replacement speed will drive these two industries to be developed faster and faster.There may be some lawsuits and governmental regulations there confronting companies, such as the plagiarization, copyright infringement, anti-monopoly, cutthroat competition, tax issue, local protection and so on. These will be the main legal issues that companies of two these industries are certainly meeting now and will still never end in the future. Plagiarization and copyright infringement wil l be the two main issues that these companies should pay more emphasis on cuz these two are the vital parts for them to keep their competitive advantages and make profits.Incorporating the relative small companies may be judged by the court saying it is buying the potential competitor due to the concern of monopoly of government. Cutthroat competition may not happen, while once it happened, it will certainly be a disaster. Tax issue and the local protection are always come together. Local government may protect the local companies by dealing high tax to the foreign competitors. Furthermore, due to the fast replacement speed, the price of products and services in these two industries will never be high as long as there is no monopoly.So the cost control is one of the key parts to determine these companies’ future. And innovation will never be too much. 3. Summarization and Evaluation of IBM’s Future Goals and Strategies The next decade holds enormous promise for IBM. Th ey are uniquely positioned to deliver the benefits of a vast new natural resource – a gusher of data from both man-made and natural systems that can now be tapped to help businesses and institutions succeed in an increasingly complex and dynamic global economy.IBM has steadily realigned its business to lead in a new era of computing and to enable its clients to benefit from the new capabilities that era is creating. As a consequence, its investors benefit from a business model that is both sustainable over the long term and fueled by some of the world’s most attractive high-growth markets and technologies. It will be on track toward its 2015 Road Map goal of at least $20 in operation earnings per share and $20 billion in revenue growth by 2015. This goal for IBM is quite suitable.There are four high-growth spaces as following, growth markets, business analytics, cloud and smarter planet. These four spaces IBM is working hard on will certainly drive to high profits due to its high emphasis and profession. The world is undergoing disruption, but IBM now stands out among its industry peers and in business at large as distinctively able to keep moving to the future, and to keep generating differentiating value for its clients, its employees and the citizens of the world. III. Accounting AnalysisThe accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements and foot notes of the International Business Machines Corporation (IBM or the company) have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP). 1. Revenue The revenue recognition principle provides guidance on when a company must recognize revenue. To recognize means to record it. If revenue is recognized too early, a company would look more profitable than it is. If revenue is recognized too late, a company would look less profitable than it is. The company recognizes revenue when it is realized or realizable and earned.The company considers revenu e realized or realizable and earned when it has persuasive evidence of an arrangement, delivery has occurred, the sales price is fixed or determinable and collectability is reasonably assured. Delivery does not occur until products have been shipped or services have been provided to the client, risk of loss has transferred to the client, and either client acceptance has been obtained, client acceptance provisions have lapsed, or the company has objective evidence that the criteria specified in the client acceptance provisions have been satisfied.The sales price is not considered to be fixed or determinable until all contingencies related to the sale have been resolved. IBM’s revenue was growing in an increasing speed and its pre-tax income margin grew from 18. 9 percent in 2009 to 19. 7 percent in 2010 to 20. 02 percent in 2011 which is the ninth consecutive increasing year. If only based on this, IBM was doing better and better in last three years. 2. Major Expenses The expe nse recognition (or matching) principle, prescribes that a company record the expenses it incurred to generate the revenue reported.The expense recognition (or matching) principle aims to record expenses in the same accounting period as the revenues that are earned as a result of those expenses. This matching of expenses with the revenue benefits is a major part of the adjusting process. Under the accrual basis of accounting, expenses are recognized when incurred, usually when goods are received or services are consumed. This may not be when the goods or services are actually paid for. The point at which an expense is recognized is dependent on the nature of the transaction or other event that gives rise to the expense.The major expense of IBM includes stock-based compensation, prepared expense, advertising and promotional expense, research expense, development expense, engineering expense, workforce rebalancing charges, retirement-related costs, amortization of acquired intangibles assets, interest expense and other expense. Below tables show the main expenses IBM recognized from 2009 to 2011. Table 3-2-1 Total Expense and Other Income ($ in millions) For the year ended December 31:| 2011| 2010| 2009|Total consolidated expense and other (income)| $29,135| $26,291| $25,647| Total operating (non-GAAP) expense and other (income) | $28,875| $26,202| $25,603| Total consolidated expense-to-revenue ratio| 27. 30%| 26. 30%| 26. 80%| Operating (non-GAAP) expense-to-revenue ratio| 27. 00%| 26. 20%| 26. 70%| We can see from this table that the expense is increasing with time goes on. While compared with the increasing speed of revenue and that of expense-to-revenue, we can figure out a little bit progress on expense control of IBM. Table 3-2-2 Selling, General and Administrative ($ in millions) For the year ended December 31:| 2011| 2010| 2009|Selling, general and administrative expense| | | | Selling, general and administrative—other| $20,287| $18,585| $17,872| Advertising and promotional expense| $1,373| $1,337| $1,255| Workforce rebalancing charges| $440| $641| $474| Retirement-related costs| $603| $494| $503| Amortization of acquired intangibles assets| $289| $253| $285| Stock-based compensation| $514| $488| $417| Bad debt expense| $88| $40| $147| Total consolidated selling, general and administrative expense| $23,594| $21,837| $20,952| Non-operating adjustments| | | |Amortization of acquired intangible assets| ($289)| ($253)| ($285)| Acquisition-related charges| ($20)| ($41)| ($8)| Non-operating retirement-related (costs)/income| ($13)| $84| $127| Operating (non-GAAP) selling, general and administrative expense| $23,272| $21,628| $20,787| Table 3-2-3 Research, Development and Engineering ($ in millions) For the year ended December 31:| 2011| 2010| 2009| Total consolidated research, development and engineering| $6,258| $6,026| $5,820| Operating (non-GAAP) research, development and engineering| $6,345| $6,152| $5,943| Table 3-2-4 Interes t Expense ($ in millions)For the year ended December 31:| 2011| 2010| 2009| Interest expense| $411| $368| $402| From all the tables above, we can find that the most important or the highest portion of the expense is the selling, general and administrative expense which includes most of the expense. 3. Investments IBM’s 2009 cash investment was $1. 2 billion for six acquisitions — five of them in key areas of software. And after investing $ 5. 8 billion in R &D and $3. 7 billion in net capital expenditures, IBM was able to return more than $10 billion to you — $7. billion through share repurchase and $2. 9 billion through dividends. Last year’s dividend increase was 10 percent, marking the 14th year in a row in which it has raised its dividend. IBM’s 2010 cash flow has enabled it to invest in the business and to generate substantial returns to investors. Our 2010 cash investment was $6 billion for 17 acquisitions— 13 of them in key areas of s oftware. After investing $6 billion in R&D and $4 billion in net capital expenditures, IBM was able to return more than $18 billion to you— $15. billion through share repurchases and $3. 2 billion through dividends. Last year’s dividend increase was 18 percent, marking the 15th year in a row in which it has raised its dividend. Over the past decade, IBM has returned $107 billion to you in the form of dividends and share repurchases, while investing $70 billion in capital expenditures and acquisitions, and almost $60 billion in R&D. IBM’s 2011 cash flow has enabled IBM to invest in the business and to generate substantial returns to investors, while spending $6. billion on R&D. In 2011 IBM invested $1. 8 billion for five acquisitions in key areas of software and $4. 1 billion in net capital expenditures. IBM was able to return $18. 5 billion to you — $15 billion through share repurchases and $3. 5 billion through dividends. Last year’s dividend incr ease was 15 percent, marking the 16th year in a row in which IBM has raised its dividend, and the 96th consecutive year in which it has paid one. From the table and the description above, the R&D investment was always above 5% of total revenue.IBM put much emphasis on its R&D to keep the sustainable development and competitive advantages. 4. Inventories Raw materials, work in process and finished goods are stated at the lower of average cost or market. Cash flows related to the sale of inventories are reflected in net cash from operating activities in the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows. Table 3-4-1 Inventories ($ in millions) At December 31:| 2011| 2010| 2009| Finished goods| $589| $432| $533| Work in process and raw materials| $2,007| $2,018| $1,960| Total| $2,595| $2,450| $2,494| 5.Property, Plant and Equipment Property, plant and equipment are carried at cost and depreciated over their estimated useful lives using the straight-line method. The estimated useful lives of cert ain depreciable assets are as follows: buildings, 30 to 50 years; building equipment, 10 to 20 years; land improvements, 20 years; plant, laboratory and office equipment, 2 to 20 years; and computer equipment, 1. 5 to 5 years. Leasehold improvements are amortized over the shorter of their estimated useful lives or the related lease term, rarely exceeding 25 years.Below is the table of Property, Plant and Equipment from 2009 to 2011 including the depreciation. Table 3-5-1 Property, Plant and Equipment ($ in millions) At December 31:| 2011| 2010| 2009| Land and land improvements| $786| $777| $737| Buildings and building improvements| $9,531| $9,414| $9,314| Plant, laboratory and office equipment| $26,843| $26,676| $9,314| Plant and other property—gross| $37,160| $36,867| $35,940| Less: Accumulated depreciation| $24,703| $24,435| $23,485| Plant and other property—net| $12,457| $12,432| $12,455| Rental machines| $2,964| $3,422| $3,656|Less: Accumulated depreciation| $1,538 | $1,758| $1,946| Rental machines—net| $1,426| $1,665| $1,710| Total—net| $13,883| $14,096| $14,165| The data from the table show a relatively steadily decreasing status of IBM’s property, plant and equipment in all. This means a good control and a relatively 6. Goodwill and Intangibles Below tables show the intangibles from 2009 to 2011 Table 3-6-1 Intangibles in 2009 ($ in millions) At December 31, 2009:| GrossCarryingAmount| Accumulated Amortization| Net Carrying Amount| Intangible asset class| | | |Capitalized software| $1,765| ($846)| $919| Client relationships| $1,367| ($677)| $690| Completed technology| $1,222| ($452)| $770| Patents/trademarks| $174| ($59)| $115| Other*| $94| ($75)| $19| Total| $4,622| ($2,109)| $2,513| Table 3-6-2 Intangibles in 2010 ($ in millions) At December 31, 2010:| GrossCarryingAmount| Accumulated Amortization| Net Carrying Amount| Intangible asset class| | | | Capitalized software| $1,558| ($726)| $831| Client relationships| $1,7 09| ($647)| $1,062| Completed technology| $2,111| ($688)| $1,422|In-process R&D| $21| $0| $21| Patents/trademarks| $211| ($71)| $140| Other*| $39| ($28)| $11| Total| $5,649| ($2,161)| $3,488| Table 3-6-3 Intangibles in 2011 ($ in millions) At December 31, 2011:| GrossCarryingAmount| AccumulatedAmortization| NetCarryingAmount| Intangible asset class| | | | Capitalized software| $1,478| ($678)| $799| Client relationships| $1,751| ($715)| $1,035| Completed technology| $2,156| ($745)| $1,411| In-process R&D| $22| ($1)| $21| Patents/trademarks| $207| ($88)| $119| Other*| $29| ($22)| $7| | $5,642| ($2,250)| $3,392|The net carrying amount of intangible assets decreased $96 million during the year ended December 31, 2011, primarily due to amortization, partially offset by intangible asset additions. No impairment of intangible assets was recorded in any of the periods presented. Total amortization was $1,226 million, $1,174 million and $1,221 million for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2 010 and 2009 respectively. The aggregate intangible amortization expense for acquired intangibles (excluding capitalized software) was $634 million, $517 million and $489 million for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009 respectively.In addition, in 2011 the company retired $1,133 million of fully amortized intangible assets, impacting both the gross carrying amount and accumulated amortization for this amount. The amortization expense for each of the five succeeding years relating to intangible assets currently recorded in the Consolidated Statement of Financial Position is estimated to be the following at December 31, 2011: Table 3-6-4 Estimated consolidated statement of financial position ($ in millions) | Capitalized Software| Acquired Intangibles| Total| 012| $480| $634| $1,113| 2013| $250| $590 | $840 | 2014| $70| $446 | $516 | 2015| —| $340 | $340 | 2016| —| $303 | $303 | The changes in the goodwill balances by reportable segment, for the years ended December 31, 2009, 2010 and 2011, are as follows: Table 3-6-5 Goodwill Balances in 2009 ($ in millions) Segment| Balance anuary 1, 2009| Goodwill Additions| Purchase Price Adjustments| Divestitures| Foreign Currency Translation and Other Adjustments| Balance December 31, 2009|Global Business Services| $3,870 | —| —| —| $172 | $4,042 | Global Technology Services| $2,616 | $10 | $1 | —| $150 | $2,777 | Software| $10,966 | $994 | ($50)| ($13)| $708 | $12,605 | Systems and Technology| $772 | —| ($7)| —| $1 | $12,605 | Total| $18,226 | $1,004 | ($56)| ($13)| $1,031 | $20,190 | Table 3-6-6 Goodwill Balances in 2010 ($ in millions) Segment| Balance anuary 1, 2010| Goodwill Additions| Purchase Price Adjustments| Divestitures| Foreign Currency Translation and Other Adjustments| Balance December 31, 2010|Global Business Services| $4,042 | $252 | $0 | —| $35 | $4,329 | Global Technology Services| $2,777 | $32 | ($1)| —| ($104)| $2,704 | S oftware| $12,605 | $4,095 | ($52)| —| $315 | $16,963 | Systems and Technology| $766 | $375 | ($1)| —| ($1)| $1,139 | Total| $20,190 | $4,754 | ($54)| —| $245 | $25,136 | Table 3-6-7 Goodwill Balances in 2009 ($ in millions) Segment| Balance anuary 1, 2011| Goodwill Additions| Purchase Price Adjustments| Divestitures| Foreign Currency Translation and Other Adjustments| Balance December 31, 2011|Global Business Services| $4,329 | $14 | $0 | ($10)| ($20)| $4,313 | Global Technology Services| $2,704 | —| ($1)| ($2)| ($55)| $2,646 | Software| $16,963 | $1,277 | $10 | ($2)| ($127)| $18,121 | Systems and Technology| $1,139 | —| ($6)| —| $0 | $1,133 | Total| $25,136 | $1,291 | $2 | ($13)| ($203)| $26,213 | Purchase price adjustments recorded in the 2011, 2010 and 2009 were related to acquisitions that were completed on or prior to December 31, 2010, 2009 or 2008 respectively, and were still subject to the measurement period that ends at the earlier of 12 months from the acquisition date or when information becomes available.There were no goodwill impairment losses recorded in 2011, 2010 or 2009 and the company has no accumulated impairment losses. IV. Financial Analysis 1. Financial Ratio Display and Interpretation 2. 1 Liquidity and Efficiency Ratios a. Current ratio 2011 Current ratio=Current assetsCurrent liabilities=50,92842,123=1. 21:1 2010 Current ratio=Current assetsCurrent liabilities=48,11640,562=1. 19:1 The current ratio is a financial ratio that measures whether or not a firm has enough resources to pay its debts over the next 12 months. It compares a firm's current assets to its current liabilities.Here, we can conclude that IBM is totally able to pay for its debt. b. Quick ratio (Acid-test ratio) 2011 Quick ratio=Cash+Short-term investments+ Current receivablesCurrent liabilities=11,922+4,895+18,38242,123=0. 84:1 2010 Quick ratio=Cash+Short-term investments+ Current receivablesCurrent liabilities=10,661++4,895+17, 39140,562=0. 81:1 Quick assets are cash, short-term investments, and current receivables. These are the most liquid types of current assets. The acid-test ratio, also called quick ratio, reflects on a company’s short-term liquidity.The quick ratio is more conservative than the current ratio, a more well-known liquidity measure, because it excludes inventory from current assets. Inventory is excluded because some companies have difficulty turning their inventory into cash. Here, the quick ratio is pretty good for IBM. c. Accounts receivable turnover 2011 Accounts receivable turnover=Net salesAverage accounts receivable, net=106,91617,886. 5=5. 97 times 2010 Accounts receivable turnover=Net salesAverage accounts receivable, net=99,87016,724=5. 97 timesAn accounting measure used to quantify a firm's effectiveness in extending credit as well as collecting debts. The receivables turnover ratio is an activity ratio, measuring how efficiently a firm uses its assets. d. Inventory tur nover 2011 Inventory turnover=Cost of goods soldAverage inventory=56,7782,522. 5=22. 51 times 2010 Inventory turnover=Cost of goods soldAverage inventory=53,8572,472=21. 89 times The Inventory turnover is a measure of the number of times inventory is sold or used in a time period such as a year. e. Days’ sales uncollected 011 Days’ sales uncollected=Accounts receivable, netNet sales*365=18,382106,916*365=62. 75 days 2010 Days’ sales uncollected=Accounts receivable, netNet sales*365=17,39199,870*365=63. 56 days Accounts receivable turnover provides insight into how frequently a company collects its accounts. Days’ sales uncollected is one measure of this activity. f. Days’ sales in inventory 2011 Days’ sales in inventory=Ending inventoryCost of goods sold*365=2,59556,778*365=16. 68 days 2010 Days’ sales in inventory=Ending inventoryCost of goods sold*365=2,45053,857*365=16. 0 days Days’ sales in inventory is a useful measure in evaluating inventory liquidity. A measure of how quickly a company turns its inventory into sales. Days’ sales in inventory is linked to inventory in a way that days’ sales uncollected is linked to receivables. g. Total assets turnover 2011 Total assets turnover=Net salesAverage total assets=106,916114,942. 5=0. 93 times 2010 Total assets turnover=Net salesAverage total assets=99,870111,237=0. 90 times The total asset turnover ratio measures the ability of a company to use its assets to efficiently generate sales.This ratio considers all assets, current and fixed. Those assets include fixed assets, like plant and equipment, as well as inventory, accounts receivable, as well as any other current assets. 2. 2 Solvency Ratios a. Debt ratio 2011 Debt ratio=Total liabilitiesTotal assets=96,197 116,433 =82. 6% 2010 Debt ratio=Total liabilitiesTotal assets=90,279113,452=79. 6% A ratio that indicates what proportion of debt a company has relative to its assets. The measure giv es an idea to the leverage of the company along with the potential risks the company faces in terms of its debt-load. b. Equity ratio 011 Equity ratio=Total equityTotal assets=20,236116,433=17. 4% 2010 Equity ratio=Total equityTotal assets=23,172113,452=20. 4% A financial ratio indicating the relative proportion of equity used to finance a company's assets. The two components are often taken from the firm's balance sheet or statement of financial position (so-called book value), but the ratio may also be calculated using market values for both, if the company's equities are publicly traded. c. Interest coverage ratio 2011 Interest coverage ratio=Income before interest expense and income taxesInterest expense=22,904411=55. times 2010 Interest coverage ratio=Income before interest expense and income taxesInterest expense=20,923368=56. 9 times A metric used to measure a company's ability to meet its debt obligations. It is calculated by taking a company's earnings before interest and t axes (EBIT) and dividing it by the total interest payable on bonds and other contractual debt. It is usually quoted as a ratio and indicates how many times a company can cover its interest charges on a pretax basis. Failing to meet these obligations could force a company into bankruptcy. 2. Profitability Ratios a. Return on total assets 2011 Return on total assets=Net incomeAverage total assets=15,855114,942. 5=13. 8% 2010 Return on total assets=Net incomeAverage total assets=14,833 111,237=13. 3% A ratio that measures a company's earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) against its total net assets. The ratio is considered an indicator of how effectively a company is using its assets to generate earnings before contractual obligations must be paid. b. Return on equity 2011 Return on equity=Net income-Preferred dividendsAverage equity=15,855-3,47321704=57. % 2010 Return on equity=Net income-Preferred dividendsAverage equity=14,833- 3,177 22963. 5=50. 8% The amount of net income ret urned as a percentage of shareholders equity. Return on equity measures a corporation's profitability by revealing how much profit a company generates with the money shareholders have invested. c. Net income as a percentage of net sales (Profit margin ratio) 2011 Net income as a percentage of net sales=Net incomeNet sales=15,855106,916=14. 8% 2010 Net income as a percentage of net sales=Net incomeNet sales=14,833 99,870=14. % A ratio of profitability calculated as net income divided by revenues, or net profits divided by sales. It measures how much out of every dollar of sales a company actually keeps in earnings. Profit margin is very useful when comparing companies in similar industries. A higher profit margin indicates a more profitable company that has better control over its costs compared to its competitors. d. Gross profit rate (Gross margin ratio) 2011 Gross profit rate=Net sales-Cost of goods soldNet sales=106,916-56,778106,916=46. 9% 2010 Gross profit rate=Net sales-Cost o f goods soldNet sales=99,870-5385799,870=46. % A company's total sales revenue minus its cost of goods sold, divided by the total sales revenue, expressed as a percentage. The gross margin represents the percent of total sales revenue that the company retains after incurring the direct costs associated with producing the goods and services sold by a company. The higher the percentage, the more the company retains on each dollar of sales to service its other costs and obligations. 2. 4 Market ratios a. Price-Earnings ratio 2011 Price-Earnings ratio=Market price per common shareEarnings per share=183. 8813. 25=13. 9:1 010 Price-Earnings ratio=Market price per common shareEarnings per share=146. 7611. 69=12. 6:1 P/E ratio is an equity valuation measure defined as market price per share divided by annual earnings per share. b. Dividend yield 2011 Dividend yield=Annual cash dividends per shareMarket price per share=2. 90183. 88=1. 6% 2010 Dividend yield=Annual cash dividends per shareMar ket price per share=2. 50146. 76=1. 7% A financial ratio that shows how much a company pays out in dividends each year relative to its share price. In the absence of any capital gains, the dividend yield is the return on investment for a stock. . Comparison and Interpretation of Ratio Values With Main Competitors Microsoft All the comparisons are based on the data of 2011. 3. 5 Liquidity and Efficiency Ratios a. Current ratio 2011 IBM Current ratio=Current assetsCurrent liabilities=50,92842,123=1. 21:1 2011 Microsoft Current ratio=Current assetsCurrent liabilities=74,91828,774=2. 60:1 The lower current ratio means that Microsoft has more resources to pay its debts over the next 12 months. b. Quick ratio (Acid-test ratio) 2011 IBM Quick ratio=Cash+Short-term investments+ Current receivablesCurrent liabilities=11,922+4,895+18,38242,123=0. 84:1 011 Microsoft Quick ratio=Cash+Short-term investments+ Current receivablesCurrent liabilities= 9,610+43,162+14,98728,774=2. 35:1 Microsoft has a higher quick ratio which means that Microsoft’s shot-term liquidity is better than that of IBM. c. Accounts receivable turnover 2011 IBM Accounts receivable turnover=Net salesAverage accounts receivable, net=106,91617,886. 5=5. 97 times 2011 Microsoft Accounts receivable turnover=Net salesAverage accounts receivable, net=69,94314000. 5=5. 00 times The similar accounts receivable turnover means that both the companies have a relatively good ability to use its assets efficiently. . Inventory turnover 2011 IBM Inventory turnover=Cost of goods soldAverage inventory=56,7782,522. 5=22. 51 times 2011 Microsoft Inventory turnover=Cost of goods soldAverage inventory=53,8571,372=39. 25 times Microsoft has a higher inventory turnover which means a better inventory control. e. Days’ sales uncollected 2011 IBM Days’ sales uncollected=Accounts receivable, netNet sales*365=18,382106,916*365=62. 75 days 2011 Microsoft Days’ sales uncollected=Accounts receivable, netNet sales*365=14000. 569,943*365=73. 1 days IBM has a faster pace to collect its accounts. f.Days’ sales in inventory 2011 IBM Days’ sales in inventory=Ending inventoryCost of goods sold*365=2,59556,778*365=16. 68 days 2011 Microsoft Days’ sales in inventory=Ending inventoryCost of goods sold*365=1,37253857*365=9. 30 days Microsoft has a quicker speed to turn its inventory into sales. g. Total assets turnover 2011 IBM Total assets turnover=Net salesAverage total assets=106,916114,942. 5=0. 93 times 2011 Microsoft Total assets turnover=Net salesAverage total assets=69,94397408. 5=0. 72 times IBM has better abilities to use its assets to efficiently generate sales. . 6 Solvency Ratios a. Debt ratio 2011 IBM Debt ratio=Total liabilitiesTotal assets=96,197 116,433 =82. 6% 2011 Microsoft Debt ratio=Total liabilitiesTotal assets=51,621 108,704 =47. 5% IBM has a higher proportion of debe relative to its assets, which means a higher risk. b. Equity ratio 2011 IBM Equity ra tio=Total equityTotal assets=20,236116,433=17. 4% 2011 Microsoft Equity ratio=Total equityTotal assets=57,083108,704=52. 5% c. Interest coverage ratio 2011 IBM Interest coverage ratio=Income before interest expense and income taxesInterest expense=22,904411=55. times 2011 Microsoft Interest coverage ratio=Income before interest expense and income taxesInterest expense=28,071295=95. 2 times Microsoft has better ability to meet its debt obligations. 3. 7 Profitability Ratios a. Return on total assets 2011 IBM Return on total assets=Net incomeAverage total assets=15,855114,942. 5=13. 8% 2011 Microsoft Return on total assets=Net incomeAverage total assets=23,15066213. 5=35. 0% Microsoft is more efficient in generating earnings by using its assets. b. Return on equity 2011 IBM Return on equity=Net income-Preferred dividendsAverage equity=15,855-3,47321704=57. % 2011 Microsoft Return on equity=Net income-Preferred dividendsAverage equity=23,150-5,39451629=34. 4% IBM has a better performan ce in generating profitability by using shareholders’ investment. c. Net income as a percentage of net sales (Profit margin ratio) 2011 IBM Net income as a percentage of net sales=Net incomeNet sales=15,855106,916=14. 8% 2011 Microsoft Net income as a percentage of net sales=Net incomeNet sales=23,15069,943=33. 1% Microsoft is better in keeping earnings in how much out of every dollar of sales. d. Gross profit rate (Gross margin ratio) 011 IBM Gross profit rate=Net sales-Cost of goods soldNet sales=106,916-56,778106,916=46. 9% 2011 Microsoft Gross profit rate=Net sales-Cost of goods soldNet sales=69,943-56,77869,943=18. 8% Higher percentage of IBM means it retains more on each dollar of sales to service its other costs and obligations. 3. 8 Market Ratios a. Price-Earnings ratio 2011 IBM Price-Earnings ratio=Market price per common shareEarnings per share=183. 8813. 25=13. 9:1 2011 Microsoft Price-Earnings ratio=Market price per common shareEarnings per share=26. 872. 73=9. 84 :1 P/E ratio gives a clear comparison, Microsoft is better. b.Dividend yield 2011 IBM Dividend yield=Annual cash dividends per shareMarket price per share=2. 90183. 88=1. 6% 2011 Microsoft Dividend yield=Annual cash dividends per shareMarket price per share=0. 64 26. 87=2. 4% Microsoft give higher percentage of dividend. 3. Comparison and Interpretation of Ratio Values with Key Business Ratios All the comparisons are based on the data of 2011. Only compared with those available online. 4. 9 Liquidity and Efficiency Ratios Table 3-3. 1-1Liquidity and Efficiency Ratios with Key Business Ratios Item| IBM 2011| IBM 2011| Key Business Ratios| Current ratio| 1. 21:1| 1. 19:1| 1. 9:1| Quick ratio| 0. 84:1| 0. 81:1| 0. 68:1| Return on equity| 57. 0%| 50. 8%| 13. 96%| Net income as a percentage of net sales| 14. 8%| 14. 9%| 10. 2%| Price-Earnings ratio| 13. 9:1| 12. 6:1| 13. 2:1| Dividend yield| 1. 6%| 1. 7%| 2. 05%| The lower current ratio means IBM has a more resource to pay its debts over the next 12 month compared to the industry average. IBM has a higher quick ratio which means that IBM’s shot-term liquidity is better than industry average. A higher return on equity ratio means IBM has a better performance than industry average in generating profitability by using shareholders’ investment.A higher Net income as a percentage of net sales means IBM is better in keeping earnings in how much out of every dollar of sales than industry average. IBM’s P/E ratio increased and exceeded the industry average and is a little bit better. Its stock performed well last year. A lower dividend yield ratio means less dividend compared to industry average gave to shareholders. In conclusion, IBM had a quite well performance in last two years. All the ratios shows that IBM had got an obvious growth and improvement. 4. Common-size Comparative Statements Analysis Appendix 1 is IBM Common-Size Comparative Balance Sheets A 0. 4% point increase in cash and equivalents , which is likely balanced with a 0. 87% point decline in Marketable securities, both steady status in inventories and property, plant and equipment, a marked increase 8. 5% in retained earnings and with most of the good increase and good decrease in percentage means a better performance year in 2011 than that in 2010. Appendix 2 is IBM Common-Size Comparative Income Statement A 0. 33% decline in cost of services, a 0. 39% decline in cost of sales, a 0. 11% decline in cost of financing, a 0. 82% decline in total cost contributes a 0. 82% increase in gross profits, and a 0. 2% decline in net income (loss) shows a better performance of IBM in 2011 than that in 2010. Appendix 3 is IBM Common-Size Comparative Cash Flow Statement A 4. 01% increase in net income, a 1. 29% decline in inventories, a 5% decline in other assets/other liabilities, a 0. 09% increase in investment in software, a 0. 61% in non-operating finance receivables – net, a 21. 17% increase in acquisition of busine sses, net of cash acquired, and a 21. 37 increase in net cash flows from investing activities gives a enough evidence to show the better performance of IBM in 2011 than that in 2010.So in conclusion, IBM performed better in 2011 than in 2010. 5. Trend Analysis Appendix 4 is IBM Income Statement Trend Percent The base period is 2009 and the trend percent is computed in each subsequent year by dividing that year’s amount by its 2009 amount. Total revenue in trend percent is 100% in 2009, 104. 29% in 2010, and 111. 65% in 2011; Total cost is 100% in 2009, 103. 62% in 2010, and 109. 25% in 2011; Total expense & other income is 100% in 2009, 102. 51% in 2010, and 113. 60% in 2011. These data shows a good control of cost but a relatively bad expense control.IBM used the relatively same cost generates more revenue but fewer revenue with the same expense. Total revenue falls short of that for total expense & other income in 2011 but exceeded in 2010, IBM fails to show an ability to c ontrol these expenses as it expands in 2011. Appendix 5 is IBM Balance Sheet Trend Percent The base period is 2009 and the trend percent is computed in each subsequent year by dividing that year’s amount by its 2009 amount. Total revenue in trend percent is 100% in 2009, 104. 29% in 2010, and 111. 65% in 2011; Total assets are 100% in 2009, 104. 60% in 2010, and 106. % in 2011; Retained earnings are 100% in 2009, 114. 38% in 2010, and 129. 61% in 2011. With these percent, we can figure out that IBM was more efficient in using its assets in 2011. Management has generated revenues sufficient to compensate for this asset growth. And in retained earnings shows a better in expense control and higher efficiency in generate revenues. So in conclusion, IBM did a quite good job in 2011. V. Prospective Analysis and Summary Here, based on what I have calculated and the interpretation. We can definitely come to a conclusion that IBM is still growing and it did very good in most parts.As the trend analysis listed above, the faster growing total revenue and the slower growing total cost shows a quite good control of the cost. IBM used the relatively same cost generates more revenue. And IBM was becoming more efficient in using its assets to generate revenue. The fairly good current ratio gives an average performance in giving the debts in next 12 months. And with the quite good quick ratio, return on equity, net income as a percentage of net sales, P/E ratio in 2011 which are higher than the average key business ratios and the ratios of IBM in 2010, we can anticipate a good performance in 2012 and far future.Common-size comparative statements analysis also gives a quite good result, such as the increase in cash and equivalents, gross profits, net income, acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired, net cash flows and retained earnings, the decline in cost of goods and inventories. Although IBM didn't perform as well as Microsoft, and there is still some defects i n its performance in last two years. As a whole, I would like to invest my hard -earned dollars into the stock of IBM. Appendix 1 | | | Common-size Percent| Report Date| 12/31/2011| 12/31/2010| 12/31/2011| 12/31/2010| Cash ; cash equivalents| 11,922,000| 10,661,000| 10. 4%| 9. 40%| Marketable securities| 0| 990,000| 0. 00%| 0. 87%| Notes ; accounts receivable – trade, net| 11,179,000| 10,834,000| 9. 60%| 9. 55%| Short-term financing receivables| 16,901,000| 16,257,000| 14. 52%| 14. 33%| Other accounts receivable| 1,481,000| 1,134,000| 1. 27%| 1. 00%| Finished goods| 589,000| 432,000| 0. 51%| 0. 38%| Work in process ; raw materials| 2,007,000| 2,018,000| 1. 72%| 1. 78%| Inventories| 2,595,000| 2,450,000| 2. 23%| 2. 16%| Deferred taxes| 1,601,000| 1,564,000| 1. 38%| 1. 38%| Prepaid expenses ; other current assets| 5,249,000| 4,226,000| 4. 51%| 3. 2%| Total current assets| 50,928,000| 48,116,000| 43. 74%| 42. 41%| Land ; land improvements| 786,000| 777,000| 0. 68%| 0. 68%| Build ings ; building improvements| 9,531,000| 9,414,000| 8. 19%| 8. 30%| Plant, laboratory ; office equipment| 26,843,000| 26,676,000| 23. 05%| 23. 51%| Plant ; other property, gross| 37,160,000| 36,867,000| 31. 92%| 32. 50%| Less: accumulated depreciation| 24,703,000| 24,435,000| 21. 22%| 21. 54%| Plant ; other property, net| 12,457,000| 12,432,000| 10. 70%| 10. 96%| Rental machines, gross| 2,964,000| 3,422,000| 2. 55%| 3. 02%| Less: Accumulated depreciation| 1,538,000| 1,758,000| 1. 2%| 1. 55%| Rental machines, net| 1,426,000| 1,665,000| 1. 22%| 1. 47%| Plant, rental machines ; oth property, gross| 40,124,000| 40,289,000| 34. 46%| 35. 51%| Less: Accumulated depreciation| 26,241,000| 26,193,000| 22. 54%| 23. 09%| Plant, rental machines ; other property, net| 13,883,000| 14,096,000| 11. 92%| 12. 42%| Long-term financing receivables| 10,776,000| 10,548,000| 9. 26%| 9. 30%| Prepaid pension assets| 2,843,000| 3,068,000| 2. 44%| 2. 70%| Deferred taxes| 3,503,000| 3,220,000| 3. 01%| 2. 84%| G oodwill| 26,213,000| 25,136,000| 22. 51%| 22. 16%| Intangible assets, net| 3,392,000| 3,488,000| 2. 1%| 3. 07%| Deferred taxes| -| -| | | Deferred transition ; set-up costs ; other deferred arrangements| 1,784,000| 1,853,000| 1. 53%| 1. 63%| Derivatives, non-current| 753,000| 588,000| 0. 65%| 0. 52%| Alliance investments – equity method| 131,000| 122,000| 0. 11%| 0. 11%| Alliance investments – non-equity method| 127,000| 531,000| 0. 11%| 0. 47%| Prepaid software| 233,000| 268,000| 0. 20%| 0. 24%| Long-term deposits| 307,000| 350,000| 0. 26%| 0. 31%| Marketable securities| -| -| | | Other receivables| 208,000| 560,000| 0. 18%| 0. 49%| Employee benefit related| 493,000| 409,000| 0. 42%| 0. 6%| Prepaid income taxes| 261,000| 434,000| 0. 22%| 0. 38%| Other assets| 598,000| 663,000| 0. 51%| 0. 58%| Total investments ; sundry assets| 4,895,000| 5,778,000| 4. 20%| 5. 09%| Total assets| 116,433,000| 113,452,000| 100. 00%| 100. 00%| Taxes| 3,313,000| 4,216,000| 2. 85%| 3. 72%| Commercial paper| 2,300,000| 1,144,000| 1. 98%| 1. 01%| Short-term loans| 1,859,000| 1,617,000| 1. 60%| 1. 43%| Long-term debt – current maturities| 4,306,000| 4,017,000| 3. 70%| 3. 54%| Short-term debt| 8,463,000| 6,778,000| 7. 27%| 5. 97%| Accounts payable| 8,517,000| 7,804,000| 7. 31%| 6. 88%| Compensation ; benefits| 5,099,000| 5,028,000| 4. 8%| 4. 43%| Deferred income| 12,197,000| 11,580,000| 10. 48%| 10. 21%| Other accrued expenses ; liabilities| 4,535,000| 5,156,000| 3. 89%| 4. 54%| Total current liabilities| 42,123,000| 40,562,000| 36. 18%| 35. 75%| U. S dollar notes ; debentures| 24,192,000| 21,766,000| 20. 78%| 19. 19%| Other debt in Euros| 1,037,000| 1,897,000| 0. 89%| 1. 67%| Other debt in Japanese yen| 1,123,000| 1,162,000| 0. 96%| 1. 02%| Other debt in Swiss francs| 173,000| 540,000| 0. 15%| 0. 48%| Other currencies debt| 177,000| 240,000| 0. 15%| 0. 21%| Long-term debt| 26,702,000| 25,606,000| 22. 93%| 22. 7%| Less: net unamortized premium (discount)| -533,000| -531,000| -0. 46%| -0. 47%| Add: SFAS No. 133 fair value adjustment| 994,000| 788,000| 0. 85%| 0. 69%| Long-term debt before current maturities| 27,161,000| 25,863,000| 23. 33%| 22. 80%| Less: Current maturities| 4,306,000| 4,017,000| 3. 70%| 3. 54%| Long-term debt| 22,857,000| 21,846,000| 19. 63%| 19. 26%| Retire ; nonpension postretire benef obligs| 18,374,000| 15,978,000| 15. 78%| 14. 08%| Deferred income| 3,847,000| 3,666,000| 3. 30%| 3. 23%| Income tax reserves| 3,989,000| 3,486,000| 3. 43%| 3. 07%| Executive compensation accruals| 1,388,000| 1,302,000| 1. 19%| 1. 5%| Disability benefits| 835,000| 739,000| 0. 72%| 0. 65%| Derivatives liabilities| 166,000| 135,000| 0. 14%| 0. 12%| Restructuring actions| 347,000| 399,000| 0. 30%| 0. 35%| Workforce reductions| 366,000| 406,000| 0. 31%| 0. 36%| Deferred taxes| 549,000| 378,000| 0. 47%| 0. 33%| Enviromental accruals| 249,000| 249,000| 0. 21%| 0. 22%| Non-current warranty accruals| 163,000| 130,000| 0. 14%| 0. 11%| Asset retirement obligations| 166,000| 161,000| 0. 14%| 0. 14%| Other liabilities| 777,000| 841,000| 0. 67%| 0. 74%| Total other liabilities| 8,996,000| 8,226,000| 7. 73%| 7. 25%| Total liabilities| 96,197,000| 90,279,000| 82. 2%| 79. 57%| Common stock| 48,129,000| 45,418,000| 41. 34%| 40. 03%| Retained earnings| 104,857,000| 92,532,000| 90. 06%| 81. 56%| Treasury stock, at cost| 110,963,000| 96,161,000| 95. 30%| 84. 76%| Net unreal gains (losses) on cash flow hedge derivatives| 71,000| -96,000| 0. 06%| -0. 08%| Foreign currency translation adjustments| 1,767,000| 2,478,000| 1. 52%| 2. 18%| Net change retirement-related benefit plans| -23,737,000| -21,289,000| -20. 39%| -18. 76%| Net unrealized gains (losses) on mktble secur| 13,000| 164,000| 0. 01%| 0. 14%| Accum gains ; (losses) not affecting ret earns| -21,885,000| -18,743,000| -18. 0%| -16. 52%| Total stockholders' equity| 20,138,000| 23,046,000| 17. 30%| 20. 31%| Non-controlling interests| 97,000| 126,000| 0. 08%| 0. 11%| Total equity| 20,236,0 00| 23,172,000| 17. 38%| 20. 42%| Appendix 2 | | | Common-size Percent| Report Date| 12/31/2011| 12/31/2010| 12/31/2011| 12/31/2010| Services revenue| 60,721,000| 56,868,000| 56. 79%| 56. 94%| Sales| 44,063,000| 40,736,000| 41. 21%| 40. 79%| Financing revenue| 2,132,000| 2,267,000| 1. 99%| 2. 27%| Total revenue| 106,916,000| 99,870,000| 100. 00%| 100. 00%| Cost of services| 40,740,000| 38,383,000| 38. 10%| 38. 43%| Cost of sales| 14,973,000| 14,374,000| 14. 0%| 14. 39%| Cost of financing| 1,065,000| 1,100,000| 1. 00%| 1. 10%| Total cost| 56,778,000| 53,857,000| 53. 11%| 53. 93%| Gross profit| 50,138,000| 46,014,000| 46. 89%| 46. 07%| Selling, general & administrative – base expense| 20,287,000| 18,585,000| 18. 97%| 18. 61%| Advertising & promotional expense| 1,373,000| 1,337,000| 1. 28%| 1. 34%| Workforce reductions – ongoing expense| 440,000| 641,000| 0. 41%| 0. 64%| Retirement-related expense| 603,000| 494,000| 0. 56%| 0. 49%| Amortization expense-acquired intangible s| 289,000| 253,000| 0. 27%| 0. 25%| Stock-based compensation| 514,000| 488,000| 0. 8%| 0. 49%| Bad debt expense| 88,000| 40,000| 0. 08%| 0. 04%| Total selling, general & administrative exps| 23,594,000| 21,837,000| 22. 07%| 21. 87%| Research, development & engineering expenses| 6,258,000| 6,026,000| 5. 85%| 6. 03%| Intellectual property & custom development income| 1,108,000| 1,154,000| 1. 04%| 1. 16%| Foreign currency transaction gains (losses)| (513,000)| (303,000)| -0. 48%| -0. 30%| Gains (losses) on derivative instruments| 113,000| 239,000| 0. 11%| 0. 24%| Interest income| 136,000| 92,000| 0. 13%| 0. 09%| Net gains from securities & investments assets| 227,000| (31,000)| 0. 1%| -0. 03%| Other income & (expense)| 58,000| 790,000| 0. 05%| 0. 79%| Total other income (expense)| 20,000| 787,000| 0. 02%| 0. 79%| Interest expense| 411,000| 368,000| 0. 38%| 0. 37%| Total expense & other income| 29,135,000| 26,291,000| 27. 25%| 26. 33%| Income (loss) bef income taxes – U. S. oper s| 9,716,000| 9,140,000| 9. 09%| 9. 15%| Income (loss) bef inc taxes – Non-U. S. opers| 11,287,000| 10,583,000| 10. 56%| 10. 60%| Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes| 21,003,000| 19,723,000| 19. 64%| 19. 75%| U. S federal income taxes (benefit) – current| 268,000| 190,000| 0. 5%| 0. 19%| U. S. federal income taxes (benef) – deferred| 909,000| 1,015,000| 0. 85%| 1. 02%| Total U. S. federal income taxes (benefit)| 1,177,000| 1,205,000| 1. 10%| 1. 21%| U. S. state & local inc tax (benef) – current| 429,000| 279,000| 0. 40%| 0. 28%| U. S. state & local inc tax (benef) – deferred| 81,000| 210,000| 0. 08%| 0. 21%| Total U. S. state & local income taxes (benef)| 510,000| 489,000| 0. 48%| 0. 49%| Non-U. S. income taxes (benefit) – current| 3,239,000| 3,127,000| 3. 03%| 3. 13%| Non-U. S. income taxes (benefit) – deferred| 222,000| 69,000| 0. 21%| 0. 07%| Total non-U. S. ncome taxes (benefit)| 3,461,000| 3,196,000| 3. 2 4%| 3. 20%| Provision for income taxes| 5,148,000| 4,890,000| 4. 81%| 4. 90%| Net income (loss)| 15,855,000| 14,833,000| 14. 83%| 14. 85%| Weighted average shares outstanding-basic| 1,196,951. 006| 1,268,789. 388| 1. 12%| 1. 27%| Weighted average shares outstanding-diluted| 1,213,767. 985| 1,287,355. 388| 1. 14%| 1. 29%| Year end shares outstanding| 1,163,182. 564| 1,227,993. 544| 1. 09%| 1. 23%| Net earnings (loss) per share-basic| 13. 25| 11. 69| 0. 00%| 0. 00%| Net earnings (loss) per share-diluted| 13. 06| 11. 52| 0. 00%| 0. 00%| Dividends per share of common stock| 2. | 2. 5| 0. 00%| 0. 00%| Total number of employees| 433,362| 426,751| 0. 41%| 0. 43%| Number of common stockholders| 504,093| 523,553| 0. 47%| 0. 52%| Appendix 3 | | | Common-size Percent| Report Date| 12/31/2011| 12/31/2010| 12/31/2011| 12/31/2010| Net income (loss)| 15,855,000| 14,833,000| 79. 89%| 75. 88%| Depreciation| 3,589,000| 3,657,000| 18. 08%| 18. 71%| Amortization of intangibles| 1,226,000| 1,174,000| 6. 18%| 6. 01%| Stock-based compensation| 697,000| 629,000| 3. 51%| 3. 22%| Deferred taxes| 1,212,000| 1,294,000| 6. 11%| 6. 62%| Net loss (gain) on asset sales & other| (342,000)| (801,000)| -1. 2%| -4. 10%| Receivables (including financing receivables)| (1,279,000)| (489,000)| -6. 44%| -2. 50%| Retirement related| (1,371,000)| (1,963,000)| -6. 91%| -10. 04%| Inventories| (163,000)| 92,000| -0. 82%| 0. 47%| Other assets/other liabilities| (28,000)| 949,000| -0. 14%| 4. 85%| Accounts payable| 451,000| 174,000| 2. 27%| 0. 89%| Net cash flows from operating activities| 19,846,000| 19,549,000| 100. 00%| 100. 00%| Payments for plant, rental machines & other property| (4,108,000)| (4,185,000)| -20. 70%| -21. 41%| Proc from disp of plant, rental machines & oth prop| 608,000| 770,000| 3. 06%| 3. 4%| Investment in software| (559,000)| (569,000)| -2. 82%| -2. 91%| Purchases of marketable securities & other investments| (1,594,000)| (6,129,000)| -8. 03%| -31. 35%| Proceeds from disposition of m arketable securities & other investments| 3,345,000| 7,877,000| 16. 85%| 40. 29%| Non-operating finance receivables – net| (291,000)| (405,000)| -1. 47%| -2. 07%| Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired| (1,811,000)| (5,922,000)| -9. 13%| -30. 29%| Divestiture of businesses, net of cash transferred| 14,000| 55,000| 0. 07%| 0. 28%| Net cash flows from investing activities| (4,396,000)| (8,507,000)| -22. 5%| -43. 52%| Proceeds from new debt| 9,996,000| 8,055,000| 50. 37%| 41. 20%| Payments to settle debt| (8,947,000)| (6,522,000)| -45. 08%| -33. 36%| Sht-tm borrows (repays)-less than 90 days-net| 1,321,000| 817,000| 6. 66%| 4. 18%| Common stock repurchases| (15,046,000)| (15,375,000)| -75. 81%| -78. 65%| Common stock transactions, other| 2,453,000| 3,774,000| 12. 36%| 19. 31%| Cash dividends paid| (3,473,000)| (3,177,000)| -17. 50%| -16. 25%| Net cash flows from financing activities| (13,696,000)| (12,429,000)| -69. 01%| -63. 58%| Eff of exch rate chngs on cash & cash e quivs| (493,000)| (135,000)| -2. 8%| -0. 69%| Net change in cash & cash equivalents| 1,262,000| (1,522,000)| 6. 36%| -7. 79%| Cash & cash equivalents, beginning of year| 10,661,000| 12,183,000| 53. 72%| 62. 32%| Cash & cash equivalents, end of year| 11,922,000| 10,661,000| 60. 07%| 54. 53%| Cash paid during the year for income taxes| 4,168,000| 3,238,000| 21. 00%| 16. 56%| Cash paid during the year for interest| 956,000| 951,000| 4. 82%| 4. 86%| Appendix 4 | Trend Percent| Report Date| 12/31/2011| 12/31/2010| 12/31/2009| Services revenue| 110. 15%| 103. 16%| 100. 00%| Sales| 115. 05%| 106. 36%| 100. 00%| Financing revenue| 91. 46%| 97. 5%| 100. 00%| Total revenue| 111. 65%| 104. 29%| 100. 00%| Cost of services| 109. 68%| 103. 33%| 100. 00%| Cost of sales| 110. 05%| 105. 64%| 100. 00%| Cost of financing| 87. 30%| 90. 16%| 100. 00%| Total cost| 109. 25%| 103. 62%| 100. 00%| Gross profit| 114. 51%| 105. 09%| 100. 00%| Selling, general & administrative – base expense| 112. 36%| 1 02. 93%| 100. 00%| Advertising & promotional expense| 109. 66%| 106. 79%| 100. 00%| Workforce reductions – ongoing expense| 92. 83%| 135. 23%| 100. 00%| Retirement-related expense| 187. 27%| 153. 42%| 100. 00%| Amortization expense-acquired intangibles| 101. 40%| 88. 7%| 100. 00%| Stock-based compensation| 123. 26%| 117. 03%| 100. 00%| Bad debt expense| 59. 86%| 27. 21%| 100. 00%| Total selling, general & administrative exps| 112. 61%| 104. 22%| 100. 00%| Research, development & engineering expenses| 107. 53%| 103. 54%| 100. 00%| Intellectual property & custom development income| 94. 14%| 98. 05%| 100. 00%| Foreign currency transaction gains (losses)| -51300. 00%| -30300. 00%| 100. 00%| Gains (losses) on derivative instruments| 941. 67%| 1991. 67%| 100. 00%| Interest income| 144. 68%| 97. 87%| 100. 00%| Net gains from securities & investments assets| -202. 8%| 27. 68%| 100. 00%| Net real gains (losses) from real est activs| -| -| 100. 00%| Other income & (expense)| 16. 48%| 2 24. 43%| 100. 00%| Total other income (expense)| 5. 70%| 224. 22%| 100. 00%| Interest expense| 102. 24%| 91. 54%| 100. 00%| Total expense & other income| 113. 60%| 102. 51%| 100. 00%| Income (loss) bef income taxes – U. S. opers| 102. 02%| 95. 97%| 100. 00%| Income (loss) bef inc taxes – Non-U. S. opers| 131. 03%| 122. 86%| 100. 00%| Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes| 115. 80%| 108. 74%| 100. 00%| U. S federal income taxes (benefit) – current| 56. 6%| 40. 17%| 100. 00%| U. S. federal income taxes (benef) – deferred| 67. 79%| 75. 69%| 100. 00%| Total U. S. federal income taxes (benefit)| 64. 88%| 66. 43%| 100. 00%| U. S. state & local inc tax (benef) – current| 357. 50%| 232. 50%| 100. 00%| U. S. state & local inc tax (benef) – deferred| 43. 78%| 113. 51%| 100. 00%| Total U. S. state & local income taxes (benef)| 167. 21%| 160. 33%| 100. 00%| Non-U. S. income taxes (benefit) – current| 138. 01%| 133. 23%| 100 . 00%| Non-U. S. income taxes (benefit) – deferred| 89. 88%| 27. 94%| 100. 00%| Total non-U. S. income taxes (benefit)| 133. 2%| 123. 21%| 100. 00%| Provision for income taxes| 109. 23%| 103. 76%| 100. 00%| Income (loss) from continuing operations| -| -| 100. 00%| Net income (loss)| 118. 10%| 110. 49%| 100. 00%| Weighted average shares outstanding-basic| 90. 19%| 95. 60%| 100. 00%| Weighted average shares outstanding-diluted| 90. 49%| 95. 97%| 100. 00%| Year end shares outstanding| 89. 11%| 94. 07%| 100. 00%| Earnings (loss) per share from continuing operations-basic| -| -| 100. 00%| Net earnings (loss) per share-basic| 130. 93%| 115. 51%| 100. 00%| Earnings (loss) per share from continuing operations-diluted| -| -| 100. 0%| Net earnings (loss) per share-diluted| 130. 47%| 115. 08%| 100. 00%| Dividends per share of common stock| 134. 88%| 116. 28%| 100. 00%| Total number of employees| 98. 99%| 97. 48%| 100. 00%| Number of common stockholders| 92. 70%| 96. 28%| 100. 00%| Appen dix 5 | Trend percent| Report Date| 12/31/2011| 12/31/2010| 12/31/2009| Cash & cash equivalents| 97. 86%| 87. 51%| 100. 00%| Marketable securities| 0. 00%| 55. 28%| 100. 00%| Notes & accounts receivable – trade, net| 104. 13%| 100. 91%| 100. 00%| Short-term financing receivables| 113. 32%| 109. 00%| 100. 00%| Other accounts receivable| 129. 7%| 99. 21%| 100. 00%| Finished goods| 110. 51%| 81. 05%| 100. 00%| Work in process & raw materials| 102. 40%| 102. 96%| 100. 00%| Inventories| 104. 05%| 98. 24%| 100. 00%| Deferred taxes| 92. 54%| 90. 40%| 100. 00%| Prepaid expenses & other current assets| 133. 02%| 107. 10%| 100. 00%| Total current assets| 104. 07%| 98. 33%| 100. 00%| Land & land improvements| 106. 65%| 105. 43%| 100. 00%| Buildings & building improvements| 102. 33%| 101. 07%| 100. 00%| Plant, laboratory & office equipment| 103. 69%| 103. 04%| 100. 00%| Plant & other property, gross| 103. 39%| 102. 58%| 100. 0%| Less: accumulated depreciation| 105. 19%| 104. 05%| 100. 00 %| Plant & other property, net| 100. 02%| 99. 82%| 100. 00%| Rental machines, gross| 81. 07%| 93. 60%| 100. 00%| Less: Accumulated depreciation| 79. 03%| 90. 34%| 100. 00%| Rental machines, net| 83. 39%| 97. 37%| 100. 00%| Plant, rental machines & oth property, gross| 101. 33%| 101. 75%| 100. 00%| Less: Accumulated depreciation| 103. 19%| 103. 00%| 100. 00%| Plant, rental machines & other property, net| 98. 01%| 99. 51%| 100. 00%| Long-term financing receivables| 101. 24%| 99. 10%| 100. 00%| Prepaid pension assets| 94. 4%| 102. 23%| 100. 00%| Deferred taxes| 83. 50%| 76. 76%| 100. 00%| Goodwill| 129. 83%| 124. 50%| 100. 00%| Intangible assets, net| 134. 98%| 138. 80%| 100. 00%| Deferred transition & set-up costs & other deferred arrangements| 100. 68%| 104. 57%| 100. 00%| Derivatives, non-current| 133. 27%| 104. 07%| 100. 00%| Alliance investments – equity method| 113. 91%| 106. 09%| 100. 00%| Alliance investments – non-equity method| 26. 62%| 111. 32%| 100. 00%| Prepa id software| 74. 68%| 85. 90%| 100. 00%| Long-term deposits| 99. 03%| 112. 90%| 100. 00%| Other receivables| 33. 71%| 90. 76%| 100. 00%|Employee benefit related| 115. 46%| 95. 78%| 100. 00%| Prepaid income taxes| -| -| -| Other assets| 76. 37%| 84. 67%| 100. 00%| Total investments & sundry assets| 91. 00%| 107. 42%| 100. 00%| Total assets| 106. 80%| 104. 06%| 100. 00%| Taxes| 86. 59%| 110. 19%| 100. 00%| Commercial paper| 978. 72%| 486. 81%| 100. 00%| Short-term loans| 108. 65%| 94. 51%| 100. 00%| Long-term debt – current maturities| 193. 79%| 180. 78%| 100. 00%| Short-term debt| 203. 05%| 162. 62%| 100. 00%| Accounts payable| 114. 54%| 104. 95%| 100. 00%| Compensation & benefits| 113. 19%| 111. 61%| 100. 00%| Deferred income| 112. 7%| 106. 78%| 100. 00%| Other accrued expenses & liabilities| 86. 83%| 98. 72%| 100. 00%| Total current liabilities| 117. 00%| 112. 67%| 100. 00%| U. S dollar notes & debentures| 132. 58%| 119. 29%| 100. 00%| Other debt in Euros| 30. 26%| 55. 35%| 100. 00%| Other debt in Japanese yen| 71. 76%| 74. 25%| 100. 00%| Other debt in Swiss francs| 35. 74%| 111. 57%| 100. 00%| Other currencies debt| 62. 11%| 84. 21%| 100. 00%| Long-term debt| 111. 22%| 106. 66%| 100. 00%| Less: net unamortized premium (discount)| 101. 14%| 100. 76%| 100. 00%| Add: SFAS No. 133 fair value adjustment| 147. 70%| 117. 9%| 100. 00%| Long-term debt before current maturities| 112. 45%| 107. 08%| 100. 00%| Less: Current maturities| 193. 79%| 180. 78%| 100. 00%| Long-term debt| 104. 22%| 99. 61%| 100. 00%| Retire & nonpension postretire benef obligs| 115. 18%| 100. 16%| 100. 00%| Deferred income| 108. 00%| 102. 92%| 100. 00%| Income tax reserves| 109. 98%| 96. 11%| 100. 00%| Executive compensation accruals| 119. 66%| 112. 24%| 100. 00%| Disability benefits| 105. 03%| 92. 96%| 100. 00%| Derivatives liabilities| 25. 58%| 20. 80%| 100. 00%| Restructuring actions| 78. 68%| 90. 48%| 100. 00%| Workforce reductions| 89. 9%| 99. 27%| 100. 00%| Deferred taxes| 116. 81% | 80. 43%| 100. 00%| Enviromental accruals| 101. 63%| 101. 63%| 100. 00%| Non-current warranty accruals| 129. 37%| 103. 17%| 100. 00%| Asset retirement obligations| 143. 10%| 138. 79%| 100. 00%| Other liabilities| 99. 49%| 107. 68%| 100. 00%| Total other liabilities| 102. 01%| 93. 28%| 100. 00%| Total liabilities| 111. 51%| 104. 65%| 100. 00%| Common stock| 115. 11%| 108. 63%| 100. 00%| Retained earnings| 129. 61%| 114. 38%| 100. 00%| Treasury stock, at cost| 136. 58%| 118. 36%| 100. 00%| Net unreal gains (losses) on cash flow hedge derivatives| -14. 6%| 19. 96%| 100. 00%| Foreign currency translation adjustments| 96. 24%| 134. 97%| 100. 00%| Net change retirement-related

Juvenile Delinquency

Juvenile Delinquency 1 Juvenile Delinquency: Features, Causes and Solutions Shen Cheng Class: 110 Teacher: Stephanie February 29, 2012 Juvenile Delinquency 2 Outline I. Introduction Thesis statement: Nowadays, there is no denying that Juvenile Delinquency has become one of the hottest social issues. The features, causes, and solutions of Juvenile Delinquency will be discussed about in this research. II. The features of Juvenile Delinquency A. The average age of juveniles who commit crimes tends to be lower B. Knowledge level of the juvenile offenders is low C. Juvenile offenders get involved in sinister gangs and tend to be in groups.D. Juvenile delinquency is prone to be more violent. E. Criminal means of juvenile offenders are more mature. F. Juvenile delinquency is occasional and at random III. The causes of Juvenile Delinquency A. Social factors. B. Family factors C. School factors D. Individual factors IV. The solutions to Juvenile Delinquency A. Prevention from individual B. Pr evention from family C. Prevention from school Juvenile Delinquency 3 D. Prevention from society E. Prevention from justice V. Conclusion Juvenile Delinquency 4 Abstract With the development of economics and the improvement of society, the rate of juvenile delinquency is at a high level.Juvenile delinquency has already been a very hot social issue nowadays. The causes of juvenile delinquency have been summarized in this research, such as personal? family? school and society factors; what features juvenile delinquency have and how we can control the delinquency effectively so that the youths can grow up healthily have also been discussed in this research. Keywords: juvenile delinquency, causes, features, control. Juvenile Delinquency 5 Juvenile Delinquency In recent years, juvenile delinquency has been a prominent social issue and attracted the attention of the whole society at the same time.Experts, scholars and volunteers who are enthusiastic about the prevention of juvenile delinq uency have come up with a lot of insightful ideas about how to control juvenile crimes. However, it’s still not that effective to decrease the high rate of juvenile delinquents. According to statistics, not only did the number of juvenile delinquency increase, but also the types of juvenile delinquency have become varied. Juvenile delinquency occupies the highest proportion of all crimes. It accounts for more than 70% of the total.The percentage of juvenile (under 15 years old) committing crimes accounts for more than 70% of the juvenile criminal cases (Bang. 2004). Today, the juvenile crime has been regarded as the world's third largest public nuisance. Juvenile delinquency not only endangers public security, but also affects a country's stability. Therefore, how to prevent and control juvenile delinquency effectively has become an essential task of the whole human society. To solve this problem, we must know about the characteristics and causes of juvenile delinquency so th at we can find appropriate methods to solve this problem effectively.The features of Juvenile Delinquency 1. The average age of juveniles who commit crimes tends to be lower. A few years ago, the average age of juveniles committing crime was still older than 17, but now the average age is only about 15. 7 years (Gao. 2010). Juvenile Delinquency 6 2. The education level of the juvenile offenders is low Most juvenile offenders have a low education level and some of them are even illiterate. Lack of education makes them have wrong values and attitude towards life, which causes them to commit crime at last. Lack of education is a major feature of juvenile delinquency. . Juvenile offenders get involved in sinister gangs and tend to be in groups. On the one hand, young people are short of adequate physical strength, intelligence, courage and experience. That’s why committing crimes individually is often difficult to succeed.They are more likely to commit crimes together with other members. On the other hand, young people are much eager to get what they can’t have both in schools and families. Then some idle people take advantage of them and divide them into small groups which usually form the predecessor of criminal gangs (Abruzzese. 1997). . Juvenile delinquency is prone to be more violent. According to statistics, property crime is the main type of juvenile delinquency. The top five crimes are: robbery, rape, theft, intentional injury causing death, and murder. The young offenders nowadays use more cruel criminal means to achieve their objectives than before (McNeece. & Roberts. 1997)5. Criminal means of juvenile offenders are more mature. Modus operandi of juvenile offenders inclines towards being more â€Å"mature. † Juvenile crimes in the past were mostly along with less criminal circumstances than Juvenile Delinquency 7 oday. In recent years, young offenders would prefer rigorous plans and clear division of who does what in their crimina l behaviors. Today, young offenders seem to have a clear understanding of what they are doing, and some are even experienced in committing crimes (Li. 2007). 6. Juvenile delinquency is occasional and at random As young people are immature in both mental and physical growth, it’s common to see that they have frequent emotional fluctuations. Failing to understand things right and objectively and strong desires to monopolize make them easy to go on extreme ways.They would take some crazy actions on the spur of the moment which may harm other innocent people badly. The causes 1. Social factors. The social reality scenes are corrupting young people’s innocent hearts. Juveniles can’t live without a colorful world which also is full of various temptations. It’s inevitable that disharmonious and evil phenomena exist along with the rapid development of economics and spiritual civilization. First, numerous students graduated from colleges can’t find a job, w hich made bad impacts on young people’s motivation to study, even worse they may be against or give up learning.High unemployment rate causes that a lot of adolescents to have nothing to do. Going on in this way, these young dawdlers would have tendency to commit crimes. Second, films, televisions and the internet can spread unhealthy things, like violence, Juvenile Delinquency 8 obscenity and so forth. For example, there was a kidnapping case which happened five years ago, the criminal suspect Zhenghong Lin(20 years old) and Cai Jiang(19 years old) watched a famous Hong Kong drama â€Å"You can’t be an abscond forever† and then imitated the way how to kidnap in the drama.They abducted their friend’s father Mr Wu , a mine owner , for RMB 60,0000 (Yu. 2010). Third, the obvious wealth gap and the wrong value â€Å"money is supreme† actually influence youths. Fourth, theft? robbery? pornography? gambling? fighting and other criminal cases which happen in our community have also influenced juveniles directly. 2. Family factors. Undesirable family education and indifferent family environment can result in irreversible harm to juveniles. The family is the first class of young people; parents are the first teachers. A proper family education is extremely important for youths to grow healthily.Incorrect home education will cause serious psychological blocks to adolescents and then they will finally form a wrong view of life. First, parental discord, divorce, frequent quarrels, offensive words and destructive behavior will lead to mental harm to juveniles; second, family’s financial problems will limit the child’s pocket money and also make him feel inferior in front of other children who have wealthy families. Hence, some children will get what they want in an extreme way, like stealing and mugging. Third, the methods of parental education are violent and crude.Some parents either scold or beat their children when they make mistakes indeliberately or they fail exams. This heavy stress will definitely cause mental Juvenile Delinquency 9 problems to those immature adolescents; fourth, some parents’ behaviors are out of order, like fooling around, gambling and excessive drinking, which will affect the juveniles’ world view badly; fifth, some parents spoil children and ignore the ideological and moral education, which will make these spoiled young people hard to accept by the society and eventually do something wrongful.If one person grows up in those inappropriate environments, his loneliness, low self-esteem, resentment and arrogance can easily be exploited by bad guys and he will commit crimes eventually. 3. School factors On the one hand, some middle and high schools are not capable of offering overall education. Those schools pay too much attention on academic records so that they ignore legal and mental education to juveniles, especially in some remote rural places. On the other ha nd, some irresponsible teachers who have low qualities often insult students and abuse corporal punishment.These extremely excessive actions will hurt innocent juveniles seriously since they are not mature enough to react and protect themselves correctly. These reasons also contribute to increasing delinquency rate because of youths’ resentment to school, even the society (Galaway. 1995) 4. Individual factors Young people are at the immature stage, both physically and mentally. Their ability to distinguish between right and wrong is not good enough and self-control is weak. Besides, they are also not capable of avoiding external temptations.What’s more, juveniles behave impulsively and have strong ability to imitate. Juvenile Delinquency 10 That’s why youths will be easily tempted to commit the crime. The solutions to Juvenile Delinquency In order to prevent and control juvenile delinquency validly, the society, families and schools should take the responsibilit y and find efficient measures to help the young generation grow healthily. 1. Prevention from individual Even though young people are mentally and physically immature, they still have to handle problems and distinguish what is right or wrong.Families and school teachers should train them to comply with the law and ethics, establish a correct outlook on life, enhance the ability to protect themselves and resist the temptation of criminal behaviors consciously. 2. Prevention from family The family is the cornerstone to control juvenile delinquency, which plays an absolutely significant role in the entire education system. Adolescents’ parents should take the initiative to absorb all kinds of knowledge first, such as legal knowledge, moral knowledge and things about how to educate children well.Only keep this way can parents be qualified to guide and influence their children properly. What’s more, parents neither have to spoil their children nor push so much pressure to a dolescents. Instead, parents should also pay attention on children’s moral education, not just on the academic achievements. 3. Prevention from school Juvenile Delinquency 11 It’s impossible for youngsters to grow healthily without school. More legal education should be provided by school. The youngsters must be taught to communicate with parents and teachers when facing unlawful attacks.Necessary skills to avoid dangers are also essential. In addition, teachers have to respect juveniles, care about them and give assistance when they need. Scolding and corporal punishment must be forbidden at school. 4. Prevention from society Building a favorable social environment for young people to grow healthily is one of the most important tasks in our society. Government shoulders the responsibility to create more job opportunities for youths, reduce the unemployment rate of young people and minimize the effects of eroticism and violence on youngsters.Besides, media should promo te more affirmative things, because positive publicity is helpful for juveniles to establish positive life attitudes (Gao. 2010). 5. Prevention from justice Improvement of legislation is a critical method to prevent juvenile delinquency. The government should consummate the legal system to protect young people’s rights and make all people realize that there would be a serious consequence if someone wanted to hurt the youths or tempted them to go the wrong ways (Kang. 2008). Conclusion Consequently, young people are the future of a nation. Whether they can grow healthily matters most to a nation’s destiny.After analyzing the features and causes of Juvenile Delinquency 12 juvenile delinquency, we find that it’s an arduous and pressing work to control juvenile delinquency effectively. Hence, we should gather all useful methods which come from family, school and society to create an ideal environment for youths to grow healthily and keep away from committing crimes. Juvenile Delinquency 13 References Abruzzese, G. (1997). Juvenile Crime: Approaching the Millennium. Journal of Delinquency now, 1 (5):23-25 Bang, H. (2004). Criminal Psychology. Beijing: Science Press Galaway, B. , et al. (1995).Specialized foster family care for delinquent youth. Federal Probation 59 (30): 19-27. Gao, L. (2010). How to build defense system of Juvenile Delinquency. Beijing: Modern Communication. Kang,S. (2008). Ten Years’ Research of Juvenile Delinquency. Chongqing: Chongqing Publishers. Li, S. (2007). Analysis of Juvenile Delinquency’s Causes and Characteristics. Beijing: Peking University Publishers. McNeece, C. , & Roberts, A. (1997). Policy & Practice in the Justice System. Chicago, IL: Nelson-Hall Publishers. Yu, X. (2010). How to suppress factor of unhealthy culture’s effects to Juvenile. Beijing: RUC Publishers. .

Social Contract on Healthcare Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

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Primary Source Analysis - Essay Example The poor were often mistreated and subjected to intense, sometimes brutal employment with minimal wages or opportunities. Aristotle is attempting to illustrate the importance of democracy as a foundational value system in political leadership and identify the risks associated with wealthier individuals coming to power and creating unfair, self-centered governments. Aristotle identifies that tyrannical leadership is often created by those who were born into wealth and influence who do not learn important lessons regarding compliance and submission. Aristotle points out that the most valuable position in a society is within the middle class ranks since it is here where lessons about servitude, ethical behavior and moral principles are developed. The rich, on the other hand, seem to be more influential and eventually rise to authority in government without having the important lessons learned about how to treat others properly. Key terms in this document include democracy and oligarchy.

Analysis of the figuritive language in th Poems Richard Cory by Edwin Essay

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Love the importance of internal control in auditing Research Paper

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Finance in the Hospitality Industry Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

Finance in the Hospitality Industry - Assignment Example It is worth mentioning in this regards that the borrowing percentage depends on the size of the industry. For instance, small-scale hospitality players, such as Queens Hotel London often borrow funds from whereas medium-sized hospitality organizations are observed to source funds from the small investment bodies, as to continue with their business processes (Hsyndicate, 2014). Â  As already discussed above, there can be various methods through which, income can be generated within a business or service operation. However, the levels of the contribution made by these income generation sources might vary to a substantial extent. For instance, in case a hotel plans to purchase laundry equipment from an electronics equipment manufacturer, on behalf of the contract made, the laundry equipment manufacturer can charge the hotel either in terms of full payment or in terms of credit purchase. The contribution of both these methods in this context can be justified with reference to the fact that if the purchase can be completed through credit, the financial burden on the hotel is also quite likely to curve down or to get reduced to a substantial extent, in the short-run. However, this will increase the liability of the organization and likewise, may not prove to be a good source of funding in the long run. Nevertheless, through the credit sales opportunity, the hot el and the equipment manufacturer will also get the opportunity of establishing the long-run business relationship with each other. Given the goodwill of the hotel on the basis of its regularity to pay back the credited amount this relationship may yield significant advantages to aid the financial needs of the organization further adding to its financial health. Thus, the purchase technique can also be recognized as a major contributor to generating income for both the business bodies.

International Business Ethics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

International Business Ethics - Essay Example Most multinational companies will tend to adopt universalism when faced with issues perceived as threats. There is also a tendency by some multinational countries to view whites as superior to other races and give special treatment to white employees (Carroll, 2004, p. 116; Deresky, 2008, p 31). Aspiration for achievement of moral universalism is quite impossible and in most cases unadvisable. This is because there is great inconsistency in behaviours and culture in different firms and thus difficult to reconcile moral or even business ethics. However, the approach is viable when dealing with moral or economic issues that have internationally set standards such as natural laws and Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Moral universalism is applicable when dealing with issues pertaining to human rights (Carroll, 2004, p. 114-119; Deresky, 2008, p 55-59). Ethnocentric Approach Ethnocentric approach hypothesizes that Multinational companies apply moral from their home country and disre gard the business ethics in the host country (Carroll, 2004, p. 116; Deresky, 2008, p. 33). ... Some multinational companies also disregard human rights set by host countries. A good example is the propensity of some Multinational companies from Asian countries to disregard the right to equality irrespective of gender (Carroll, 2004, p. 116; Deresky, 2008, p. 69-71). MNCs from some Asian countries do not offer equal employment opportunities for men and women. Ethnocentric approach is also evident in Some Multinational companies that use money or other gifts as a form of enticement even in countries that consider enticement as a form of corruption (Carroll, 2004, p. 115-116; Deresky, 2008, p. 40-44). Ethnocentric approach is possible and advisable in some situations such as using free samples to enlighten people on a new product or even entice them to purchase. However, such enticement or behaviour should be done cautiously if host countries consider it as illegal (Carroll, 2004, p. 117). Ethical Relativism Moral Relativism is a concept, which assumes that there are different st andards of defining right from wrong and no criterion can be considered universally acceptable. Relativism approach advocates that multinational companies adopt the moral codes of the host country. Moral standards differ depending on individuals as well as culture. Moral Relativism posits that the moral standards are not static and keep changing with time. In addition, the theory supposes that authorities such as religion, culture, and governments also define the morality (Carroll, 2004, p. 116; Deresky, 2008, p. 59-61). Examples of Attempts by Multinational Organisations to Use Ethical Relativism Most multinational companies tend to apply ethical relativism since it encourages acceptability from the host country. A good example is adherence to laws of the

The essay should be presented as a Journal opinion article. The

The should be presented as a Journal opinion article. The article should be timely and address an economic issue of curren - Essay Example The short and long term implications of immigration laws are imperative for determining employment rates and productivity of the US workforce. In the short run, immigration is said to slightly decrease the employment rates or in other words, increase unemployment rates however the long run implications are positive. The matter has been the center of debate and has affected the US immigration policy greatly. While many try to make a case against reform in US immigration laws, credible sources in the available literature have established that long term impacts of immigration on the US workforce is positive as it enhances labor productivity. In their opinion article titled More Immigration Means More Jobs for Americans, John Dearie and Courtney Geduldig have given useful statistics that suggest that immigration improves employment as it creates jobs for the common people (n.pag.). It mentions how immigrants make up on a small percent of the total American population yet contribute a sig nificant percent to the economy by means of small businesses. Because most immigrants are self-employed and own several small scale sole-proprietorships and partnership businesses, they create jobs for the people thereby helping to reducing the unemployment rates. ... ed by Dearie and Geduldig is consistent with current findings which Giovanni Peri has described in his article The Impact of Immigrants in Recession and Economic Expansion. Peri’s article mentions the long run positive effects of immigration on the US economy as it increases productivity (4). Immigrants bring in new ideas and creativity along with them leading diverse distribution of organizational workforces. Although it may seem like immigrations negatively impact the US labor market as they saturate jobs and cause unemployment in the short run, the long run implications are promising. However, it seems to long before the long run positive impacts become observable. Even though short run effects of immigration may reduce employment, it increases average income in the long run (Peri, 4). So, the long effects of immigration are positive on employment, productivity, and income. However, it is also important to note that the immigration must adapt to economic changes in order fo r it to improve variables such as employment, productivity, and average income. The current US immigration laws do not allow the immigrants to adjust to economic changes because it makes them unresponsive to the economic conditions. In order for legal immigration to improve organizational productivity, average income, and employment rates, immigration must adjust to economic cycles thereby leading to improvements in the US economy. These adjustments are the hardest to carry during prolonged periods of economic downturns and therefore amendments in the US immigration policy is required to allow the inflows to be responsive to economic changes thereby helping to boost economic activity and hence result in greater jobs for the people. Thus, a reform in the current US immigration laws may provide a

Biodiesel as an Alternative Fuel Essay Example for Free

Biodiesel as an Alternative Fuel Essay As time goes on, humans are discovering new ways to improve their means of living. Whether the upgrade affects us financially, socially, or if it helps the Earth, or better health and education, things are changing. Multiple enhancements in fueling one’s car have risen. Gas has become pricey, and the controversial argument that oil will one day perish are factors that have led people to find other alternatives. Biodiesel is an efficient alternative fuel, for the reason that biodiesel is a safe, eco-friendly, and affordable option. Biodiesel is a clean burning alternative fuel. It is renewable and generated from a variety of vegetable oils and animal fats, not raw vegetable oil. Raw vegetable oil cannot be utilized because it has not undergone the process of transesterification. Transesterification is a process in which oils and fats are obtained organically and are combined with alcohol with the help of a Catalyst to form esters. Biodiesel can be used either in its pure form of 100% biodiesel, or can mix with petroleum as a biodiesel blend (ex: B20, 20% biodiesel, 80% petroleum diesel). Biodiesel began in the 1890s with Rudolph Diesel. Diesel thought early diesel engines could run on pure vegetable oils and believed there would be a grand benefit to those living in poor areas where there was no petroleum. The modern biodiesel that is derived from the transesterification process did not surface until the 1930s in Belgium. But today’s biodiesel really began in Europe in the late 1980s. The early diesel engines ran on many substances, until vegetable oil seemed to be an efficient alternative. That is when Rudolph Diesel got to work and researched vegetable oil, concluding farmers could make their own fuel. However, Diesel died a short while after and petroleum became found in many forms. There was abundance of petroleum and in low cost, so the diesel engine was changed to match diesel petroleum fuel. The petroleum diesel spread quickly and biodiesel was ignored. Yet, the biodiesel industry kicked off after the transesterification process was launched and became a preferred method as an alternative fuel. All good things are flawed, and biodiesel does include some disadvantages. The production of biodiesel can result in more land use. If many of us switch to using biodiesel, there would be much land devoted to our biodiesel fuel needs. Biodiesel transportation and storage can be a hassle. Since biodiesel does not flow well during winter, storage can become an issue. Also, biodiesel cannot travel in pipelines. A truck has to transport it, resulting in higher cost. Biodiesel becomes a gel in cold weather and does not flow; therefore one can experience driving difficulties in the winter time. The diesel creates wax crystal which can clog filters and fuel lines in your car’s fuel system. Even with its disadvantages, biodiesel has not become a popular alternative fuel for nothing. It has many advantages that persuade people to make the switch. Biodiesel is easy to use, and any vehicle can be converted into a diesel engine car. Also, because biodiesel can be blended with petroleum diesel, one could switch from biodiesel to petroleum whenever wanted, without having to make any changes. Biodiesel pumps at gas stations across the country are growing daily. Pure, 100% biodiesel will have about 5%-10% less energy than petroleum diesel. Usually people notice very little change in their mileage or performance. When using a biodiesel blend, the numbers change. Using B20, there is less than 2% change in energy and users notice no change in mileage or performance. Using biodiesel is an advantage that is greatly helpful to the environment. Biodiesel is nontoxic, causing less damage than petroleum diesel if it is spilled or somehow released to the environment. It is also safer than petroleum diesel because it is less able to explode or catch on fire. The combustion temperature for biodiesel is higher than 150Â °C, and about 52Â °C for petroleum diesel. Biodiesel is safe to handle, store, and transport. B100 use reduces carbon dioxide emissions by more than 75% compared with petroleum diesel. Using B20 reduces carbon dioxide emissions by 15%. Also, in both soil and water, biodiesel degraded at a rate 4 times faster than petroleum diesel. Because of its clean nontoxic emissions, easy use, and many other benefits, biodiesel is becoming one of the fastest growing alternative fuels in the world. Due to its expense, biodiesel is cost competitive with petroleum diesel. Millions of users have switched to using biodiesel and are enjoying its benefits. If we create biodiesel in a reasonable manner, it can help the world with the topic of petroleum supply. It’s clean, renewable, and cost effective fuel will provide us with economic and environmental advantages for the future.